Today, I’m sharing with you Tips for Small Kitchens. I live in a studio apartment in Chicago and before that I lived in a studio in San Francisco, and before that I “enjoyed” the smallest of kitchens in college apartments. So not only do I know a bit about small kitchens but I know what it’s like to rent small kitchens, where you can’t exactly change things. Maybe you are renting too? Maybe changing up the kitchen isn’t in the budget? Maybe you just like a neat and tidy kitchen no matter what its size? Then this is for you.

1. What do you really need?

I know this seems painfully obvious. But have you really thought about it? For example, I make cupcakes or muffins…once or twice a year. If I have room for that pan, we’re all good. But if I need more room, then it needs to go (preferably to a family member’s home where I can take it back again).

Take inventory. What do you use and how often?

2. Get Rid of the Clutter While Exposing Yourself.

You need a workspace. Period. That was my biggest complaint about my last kitchen. Make sure things have a place and are organized but just because everything needs a place, doesn’t mean that place can’t be on your counter. For example, I’m Italian. I use olive oil on the daily. It sits on my counter in a pretty container. It’s pretty and uncluttered and organized because it’s where I need it to be.

3. Use Every Bit of Space You Have

What are you doing with the space above the fridge? For me, it’s where my crockpot lives, my mixer, and a photo of my sister.

I also happen to have this few inches between cabinet and the ceiling. If I built this kitchen, I would make sure the cabinets were flush to the ceiling but alas, I rent. So what I keep up extra picture frames that currently don’t fit in my space.

Then there is this edge that I can seen from my bed and my living room. What was I going to do with it? Use some of my junk and make it pretty. See? We’re back to exposure but no clutter.

4. Create More Space

On the small opposite wall, I use this very popular Ikea piece partly for a bar. I also store or my dishtowels in one of the bins. I created another flat surface to expose in a non-cluttered way and more storage with this one small addition.

5. Maintain your Personality.

I went for some bright pops of color. If you can paint or redo your kitchen, consider lightening things up to make it appear larger. But make it your own. It’s not any small kitchen: it’s yours.

So there are my tips. Do you have any to add? How do you keep your (any size) kitchen organized?

P.S. Right now I am offering 25% off of any of my sponsor spots with code: kitchen

I know I might sound insane, but as a minimalist, I actually prefer a small kitchen. It’s easier to move around in and quickly grab what I need and transition from stove to sink to fridge and back. You know, as long as I’m the only one in there – no babies or dogs or husband tripping me up 🙂 Large kitchens are more to clean and store more crap you really don’t need.

We’ve had to deal with so many small kitchens on our nomad adventures. I usually reach a breaking point and just throw up my hands in frustration because THERE’S NO SPACE TO PUT ANYTHING! Thanks for these tips, especially the ‘you need a workspace’ one.